Electric light bulb



July 24, 1951 M. BLOESE ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB Filed Nov. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. MAX. (-3 L0 ESE AT To QN EH15 Patented Jul 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHT BULB Max Bloesc, Chicago, Ill. Application November 14, 1950, Serial No. 195,655 (Cl. 315-73).

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting, and more particularly to an electric light bulb including an internal structure for selectively opening and closing the bulb filament circuit in accordance with different positions of the bulb.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric light bulb which includes an internal structure particularly adapted to complete the bulb filament circuit in response to the movement of the bulb to an upwardly inclined position. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric light bulb which includes a mass of electrically conductive material, such as mercury, loosely supported within the bulb for selectively completing the bulb filament circuit in accordance with the position of the bulb.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric light bulb of the type described which is particularly adapted to be supported on the trunk door of an automobile, whereby movement of the trunk door to the open position completes the filament circuit for the bulb to thereby illuminate the automobile trunk.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electric light bulb including an internal structure for selectively opening and closing the bulb filament circuit which is relatively simple in structure and cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description or" the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electric light bulb of the present invention shown supported on a female receptacle carried by the trunk door of an automobile; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational View, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the electric light bulb of the present invention shown supported in the female receptacle of the trunk door with the trunk door in a closed position with respect to the trunk.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the electric light bulb of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral I2, which is adapted to be mounted in a female receptacle II of the type including bayonet slots l2 and I3 for movement from various downwardly inclined positions to an upwardly inclined position. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the female light bulb receptacle II is supported by means of a bracket I4 on the swingable trunk door I5 of the automotive vehicle IS. The trunk door I5 is shown in the open position in Figure 1, wherein the light bulb I 0 is supported in an upwardly inclined position and is shown in the closed position, Figure 2, wherein the light bulb is supported in a downwardly inclined position.

Electric light bulb I0 of the present invention includes a base 20 having spaced insulated termlwardly to form an annular flange 23. Supported within the shell 2| is an insulator 24 which carries the base terminal 22 andis formed with an annular shoulder 25, the shoulder embracingly engaging the annular fiange 23. Projecting outwardly from opposed points of the shell 2| are the lugs 26 and 21 which are receivable within the bayonet slots I2 and I3 01 the female receptacle I I for effecting the securement of the shell to the receptacle II in a position wherein the base terminal 22 contacts the terminal 28 of the female receptacle The terminal 28 of the receptacle I I is electrically connected to a suitable source of electrical energy, such as the automobile battery, by meansof the wire 29.

Carried by the base 22 is an evacuated envelope 3!! including a globe section 3| and a constricted or closed neck section 32 forming a support 33.

Disposed in the envelope are a pair of spaced lead-in wires 34 and 35 each of which has one end secured to the support 33 of the envelope 30. Disposed within the globe section 3| of the envelope 32 is a filament 36 which is electrically connected between the free ends of the lead-in wires 34 and 35.

The securement of the neck section 32 of the envelope 32 in the shell 2| of the base 20 is effected by means of the basing cement 31 which substantially surrounds the neck section 32 of the envelope and fills the interior of the shell 2|. It is to be noted that the mass of basing cement 3i spaces the supported end of the envelope from the insulator 24 and maintains the shoulder 25 of the insulator in contact with the annular flange 23.

Suitable means connect the end of the lead-in wire 34 carried by the support 33- to the base terminal 22. As clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the means for connecting the filament lead-in wire 34 to the base terminal 22 embodies a length of connecting wire 39 which is formed integrally with or secured to the filament lead-in wire 34 and is embedded in the insulator 24 and the mass of basing cement 3T.

Carried by the support 33 of the envelope 30 isa contact 40 which has one end connected to the outer conductive shell 2| and has the other end projecting into the envelope contiguous to and spaced from the secured end of the lead-in wire 35.

Freely supported within the globe section. 3| of the envelope 30 is a mass of an electrically conductive material, such as mercury, the mass or globule being designated by the reference numeral 4|. The mass of mercury 4| is movable into bridging and contacting relation with respect to the contact 40 and the lead-in wire in response to the movement of the base 22 into the upwardly inclined position. When the mass of mercury 4| bridges the contact and the lead-in wire 35, an electrical circuit is completed for the 3 filament 36 of the light bulb [0. The filament circuit includes the lead-inWireM which is filament 36, the lead-in wire 35, the mass of mercury ll, the contact 40, and the outer con;-

The outer conductive shell 31-.

ductive shell 3| wires to said base contact, the other wire being unconnected with said base contact and said electrically connected to the base terminal 22, the

.shell, another contact carried by said insulator 'and positioned withinthe bulb in laterally spaced relation to the other lead-in wire, and a mass of conductive fluid material freely contained in said to thereby complete the electrical circuit for the bulb. r

Surrounding a substantial portion of the lead- .in wire 34 contiguous to the secured end thereof is aninsulating sleeve 42 which maintains the I mass of mercury 4| out of short circuiting contact between the pair of lead-in Wires 34 and 35. As

illustrated, the insulating sleeve 42 may be formed integrally with the envelope 30. V

V llorusing the electric light bulb of the present invention on the trunk door 15, the lugs 26 and iii are engaged in the opposed bayonet slots I2 and it of the female receptacle ll. When the trunk door 55 is in the closed position i'llustrated in Figure 2, the mass of mercury M will besupported inthe lowermost portion of the globe section 3! of the envelope 30. Upon movement of the trunk door '5 5 to the open position illustrated in Figure 1, themass of mercury 4| will move into a position bridging and contacting the lead-in wire 3% filament circuit for the bulb.

Although only one embodiment of the electric light bulb of the present invention has been illustrated, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit 'of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I'claim is; j

1. 'An electric light bulb comprising a base adapted to be mounted in a female receptacle for movement from various downwardly inclined positions to an upwardly inclined position, said base including an electrically conductive shell, an insulator disposed within said shell and supported therein, and a base contact carried by said insulator exteriorl of said shell, an evacuated envelope including a closed neck section forming a support carried by said base, a'pair .of laterally spaced lead-in wires disposed longitudinally within said envelopeand each having one end secured to said support, a filament connected be tween the other ends of said pair of lead-in wires, means connecting said one end of one of 'said lead-in wires to said base contact, another contact carriedby said support and having one end connected to said'conductive shell and having its other end projecting laterally into said envelope contiguous to and spaced from'said one end of the other of said lead-in wires, and a mass of electricall conductive material freely contained within said envelope and movable into bridging and contacting relationwith respect to said other contact and said other lead-in wire in response to the movement of said base into said upwardly inclined position.

2. In an electrical lamp, a base comprising an exterior conductive shell containing an insulator, a base contact on said insulator exposed at one end of the shell, a bulb'mounted onthe opposite end of the shell, a pair of longitudinally extend-i ing lead-in wires, projecting into the bulb from said insulator, said lead-in wiresbeing in laterally spaced relation, a filament connected between the ends of said wires remote from the insulator, conductive means connecting one of said and the contact. to thereby complete the said insulator, said lead-in wires being in laterbulb for bridging said other contact and said other lead-in wire when the bulb is uptilted above the base, said mass being remote from said other contact and said other lead-in wire in down tilted positions of the bulb.

3. In an electrical lamp, a base comprising an exterior conductive shell containing an insulator, a base contact on said insulator exposed at one end of the shell, a bulb mounted on the opposite end of the shell, a pair of longitudinally extendingleadin wires projecting into the bulb from ally spaced relation, a filament connected between the ends of said wires remote from the insulator, conductive means connecting one of said wires to said base contact, the other wire being unconnected with said base contact and contact andsaid other lead-in wire when the bulb is uptilted above the base, said mass being remote from said other contact and said other lead-in wire in down tilted positions of the bulb, said other contact being located at the side of said other lead-in wire from said one lead-in Wire.

i. In an electrical lamp, a base comprising an exterior conductive shell containing an insulator, a base contact on said insulator exposed at one end of the shell, a bulb mounted on the opposite end of the shell, a pair of longitudinally extending lead-in wires projecting into the bulb from said insulator, said lead in wires being in laterally spaced relation, a filament connected between the ends of said wires remote from the insulator, conductive means connecting one of said wires to said base contact, the other wire being unconnected with said base contact and said shell, another contact carried by said insulator and positioned within the bulb in laterally spaced relation to the other lead-in wire, and a mass of conductive fluid material freely contained in said bulb for bridging said other contact and said other lead-in wire when the bulb is uptilted above the base, said'mas's being remote from said other contact and said other lead-in wire in down vtilted positions of the bulb, said other contact REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "339,253 Arnold Apr. 1886 2,086,192 Schumaker July 6, 1937' 

